CHARLESTON, W.Va. — House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, today announced several changes to his leadership staff.
J. Robert Leslie, who most recently served as Director of the Civil Rights Division of the West Virginia Office of Attorney General, will succeed Dan Greear in the role of House Counsel. Greear, who has been appointed a judge to the Intermediate Court of Appeals, will remain in the position through May 5.
Leslie has spent time as Senior Deputy Attorney General, supervising the entire office’s legal staff and completing office-wide strategic planning as well as managing legislative teams. During his time with the Office of Attorney General, Leslie developed and implemented the office’s efforts to combat human trafficking by providing training to more than 3,500 law enforcement officers, CPS workers, healthcare providers and other stakeholders. Leslie also has served as circuit judge of the 29th Judicial Circuit in addition to working in private legal practice.
“Bob Leslie brings a wealth of legal experience to the House of Delegates,” Hanshaw said. “Given the breadth of legal issues the House undertakes, we are excited to welcome a new team member and leader for our legal staff with experience not only as a practicing attorney, but also as manager of a legal staff, a judge and senior government official. “Bob will be a welcomed addition to our team, and we are excited to have him joining us in a senior position.”
Hanshaw also announced Charles Roskovensky, a 17-year attorney with the West Virginia House of Delegates, will take on the role of Deputy House Counsel in addition to his duties as Chief Counsel to the Committee on Health and Human Resources. Roskovensky has been instrumental in drafting the past decade of healthcare legislation in the House, including foster care reform, updates for telehealth, substance abuse and most recently the division of the Department of Health and Human Resources.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to elevate Charlie to a more prominent role here in the House,” Hanshaw said. “He has been looked to for years as a leader among our current staff attorneys, and Charlie’s years of experience, sound judgment and his institutional knowledge make him ideally suited for this expanded role.
“While we certainly will miss Dan and we wish him well as he transitions to his new role as judge, we also recognized this opportunity to restructure a lot of what we execute here at the staff level to ensure we’re doing everything we can to serve our members and the state of West Virginia with the highest-quality work product possible.”
House Chief of Staff Jeff Billings will continue in that position where he oversees day-to-day operations within the House of Delegates and advises both Hanshaw and lawmakers as well as preparing the meticulous details necessary for each House floor session.
“The House does not function without Jeff Billings, and everyone knows it,” said Hanshaw. “He is – and will remain – indispensable.”
As Billings takes on even more policy duties in the coming year, House Communications Director Ann Ali also will assume the additional role of Deputy Chief of Staff.
“In her two years with us here in the House, Ann has demonstrated not only her exceptional skills as Communications Director but also a commitment to the body, its members and our work that far exceeds those duties,” Hanshaw said in describing her expanded role. “She is enthusiastic about the work and the institution, and I am pleased Ann is willing to take on additional responsibilities to help us accomplish even more.”
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